PCOS and Hair Fall: Why It Happens and How to Manage It

Ever been in a situation when you wake up just to find hair lying on your pillow or falling out while taking a shower? This is a common situation if you are suffering from Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS).

This condition is affecting millions of women around the world. This mainly affects the regulation of hormones by your body. Hair loss is among the most problematic conditions that women experience when having PCOS. 

This comprehensive web blog will help you understand the cause of hair loss due to PCOS in order to regain your natural beauty.

PCOS and Its Connection to Scalp

PCOS refers to Polycystic ovary hormone syndrome which might occur due to hormonal imbalance. Hormones work together to ensure the provision of healthy body services including hair growth.

But you must know that there are some complications with PCOS, especially high levels of these hormones that cause some problems in my head.

What happens if you are one with PCOS during different phases of hair growth is as follows:

1. The Growth Phase: This is an active period which takes some time before it ends and enables you to trim off the strand of hair to the desired length.
2. The Resting Phase: Hair stops from growing. It stops for some time and then grows again.
3. The Shedding Phase:Hair strands fall off while new strands begin to grow at the same spot. PCOS causes disruption of the normal menstrual cycle. The growth phase gets shortened while shedding happens fast. And your hair will look thinner after some time. 

Why PCOS Causes Hair Fall?

Hair loss as caused by PCOS is associated with the concentration levels of the male hormones and glucose in the bloodstream. Thus, these factors are the causes of hair loss.

1.Hyperactivation of Male Hormone

The female body normally produces male hormones, also referred to as anabolic steroids like testosterone. It is absolutely natural. In case a person is affected by PCOS, he/she will have increased production of androgen than required in their bodies.

There are certain enzymes on the head that convert excess of the testosterone into another form of hormone which is DHT, also referred to as dihydrotestosterone. DHT can be said to be an unwelcome guest that bullies on one's scalp. The reality is that it attaches itself to my scalp before making me vacate the place. Follicle miniaturization is this phenomenon.

In case, there is a pressure exerted on hair roots by the DHT then: 

• Hair shafts are quite weak.
• Hair is weak and brittle, thus, it breaks easily.
• Roots become too small to continue producing hair follicles.

2.Insulin and glucose relationship

The condition of insulin resistance also commonly occurs in many women with PCOS. Insulin is the powerful hormone that transforms the food we eat into energy. Insulin resistance occurs when your body cells do not respond well to insulin in your body. This causes your pancreas to work overtime and overproduce insulin in your body.

High levels of insulin in blood sugar levels acts as a warning signal to your ovaries. This increases the levels of androgens in your body. Furthermore, it decreases the levels of a particular protein in your body that can help keep excess testosterone out of your body by binding to it.

This lack of protein does not act as a shield against the testosterone reaching your head.

Sign and Symptoms of Hair Loss Due to PCOS

Hair loss may be caused by many different factors like extreme stress, season changes and change in dieting. PCOS hair loss is distinctive compared to other types. 

Symptoms of hair loss related to PCOS are:

1. Widening Part Hair line:--The length of the section cut off from my head is larger, which indicates that more scalp is visible compared to before.
2. Crown Thinning:--There are signs of hair thinning in the upper area of my scalp, where my hair has become very light.
3. Preservation of the frontal hair line:--In women who have PCOS, little hair is lost from the top of their head; however, there is a great deal of loss under it.
4. Loose strands of hair draining:--Many loose hair strands fall off during showering and brushing and get stuck on clothing.
5. Oily scalp and problem with dandruff:--Hormonal hair loss causes sebum secretion. 

PCOS Hair Loss Vs. Regular Hair Loss

To further clarify this, let us compare the normal process of hair shedding to that seen in cases of PCOS:

Is PCOS Hair Fall Reversible?

Certainly, it is possible if the problem is treated from its roots, to prevent and reverse hair loss due to PCOS.

Your hair follicles do not disappear immediately but shrink downwards due to the influence of hormones. If you decrease the production of testosterone in your body by means of changing your diet, reducing the level of blood sugar and taking care of your head properly, then you will be able to grow your hairs again.

Patience is your best weapon here. Hair grows very slowly. Normally, you have to wait for 3-6 months to reduce hair loss and 6-12 months more to see new hairs growing.

Daily Hair Care Routine

• Step 1: Wash hair using the anti hair fall shampoo:--In order to remove oily scalp, wet your hair and apply some of the anti-hair fall shampoo without drying my hair.
• Step 2: Apply Tinfal anti-hair fall shampoo--In order to cure hair loss, you should apply Tinfal anti-hair fall shampoo for two minutes and absorb the extra nutrients in the roots.
• Step 3: Massage for Active Growth--Massage your head with fingers to stimulate your hair follicles and enhance the blood flow to your scalp as like Best shampoo for hair growth.
• Step 4: Hair strengthening with the best shampoo for hair fall--To wash hair with cold water and the best shampoo to make my hair thick and strong.

Management of PCOS Hair Fall

There are certain things that have to be done to manage PCOS hair loss. Here’s an easy guide on how to take control of your life.

Sort out your meals, nutrition, and diet:

Nutrition is certainly important for hair growth as protein is what makes the hair. Have healthy natural foods which will make sure you have the right blood sugar levels.

1. Add Protein to Your Diet:--some of the best foods that will ensure that your body gets a good diet and grows hair properly are: 

• Egg
• Lentil
• Chicken
• Fish
• Tofu

2. Move To Complex Carbohydrates:--Instead of white bread, sugary snacks, and soda, have brown rice, oats, and whole grains.

Have healthy fats that are some of the best omega 3 fats sources such as:

• Almonds
• Walnuts
• Chia seeds 
• Flaxseed

3. Fix Important Nutrient Deficiencies:--It is common for women with PCOS to lack important nutrients that are necessary for the growth of their hair. There is a simple blood test that you should take with my doctor to measure these deficiencies.

• • • Iron and Ferritin--A protein that acts as storage for iron inside cells of animals and humans. In the case of ferritin deficiency, iron from elsewhere in the body will be used for other body functions such as red blood cell production and energy. Keep your ferritin levels at their best.

• • • Vitamin D--Helps form new hair follicles. Sunlight and some vitamins will do wonders.

• • • Zinc and Vitamin B12--They are responsible for healing skin tissues.

Work out Your Body Every Day:

Workout every day to get rid of the PCOS condition. You don't have to burn the candles doing intense workout for hours every day. Just go for a walk for 30 mins, do yoga, cycling or dance to get the body a better insulin user. It is really helpful in reducing the hair loss resulting from excess testosterone.

For the Purpose of Preventing Physical Damage to Your Hair:

Hair becomes weak and breaks easily owing to thinning as a result of PCOS. Take care of this very well.

1. Avoid Tight Hairstyles:--Avoid twisting your hair into buns or any other braiding hairstyles as they can easily pull on the weak spots of your scalp.
2. Use Less Heat on Your Hair:--Put aside the blow dryer, straightener, and curling iron because they damage the proteins of your hair due to overheating.
3. Brush With Wide-Tooth Comb:--In order not to pull on the strands of your hair each time you brush upwards.

What to Expect When Seeing a Doctor?

If there are no improvements from the change in your lifestyle and using particular shampoos, then you need to consult a doctor, dermatologist or trichologist. The doctor might recommend you some:

1. Medications:--Inositol (Myoinositol) - It is a medicine used by doctors to maintain insulin levels and menstrual cycle.
2. Anti-Androgen Medications:--Spironolactone is the drug that prevents harm from DHT to your scalp and prevents shrinking of your hair follicles.
3. Topical Ointments:--Your doctor may advise you to use the minoxidil lotion on your scalp for hair growth.
4. Natural Remedies:--The majority of the patients treat their condition for a long time without any pain and without suffering from side effects through natural methods like homeopathy, which balances the chemistry of our body.

Checklist for Your Hair Care Routine

In order to simplify this,  a more or less daily check list can help you to be on the right track:

• A shampoo for preventing hair loss Shampoo when you wash your hair.
• Your body needs food which is rich in protein but does not have high sugar content.
• Drink 2 to 3 litres of pure water everyday.
• Exercise for 30 minutes.
• Cleaning hair by using hot water and a tight ponytail is not suggested.
• Relax yourself by breathing out deeply for 5 mins.

Conclusion

However, handling PCOS and hair loss may be difficult; but in any case, do not let it influence your personality. With thin skin, it becomes necessary that more effort should go into nutrition and changing one’s lifestyle to look after our body properly.

Having a nutritious diet, exercising, reducing stress, and staying away from some substances, such as good quality shampoos, can help maintain healthy scalp and promote new hair growth. Be patient, don’t hurry yourself, and allow your body to recover for some time during the day.